Passages into Womanhood by Pamela Chubbuck, Ph.D. |

Menarche: First Blood/First Period

Hello All You Granddaughters!

Welcome to the world of Becoming Woman.

You are Becoming Woman because It takes time to go from a small baby, to girl, to maiden, and then to woman. Just because you have your period does not make you suddenly grown up, so don't worry, you have plenty of time to learn everything you need to know. Later you willl grow into a wise woman.

Being a woman is special and wonderful. Don’t listen if anyone tells you that any part of being a woman is not a good thing. Even though other girls may not feel good about themselves or their periods, you will find ways to honor, love and celebrate the fact that you are female. Find friends to celebrate with. Try forming a group that you could name: Bleeding Time Women, Sisters in Blood, Goddesses in Training, Moon Maidens or find your own special name for your group. Your friends can discuss all aspects of Bleeding Time, relax together and support each other as Becoming Women.

Welcome to your Bleeding Time!

You may want to order Woman Spirit and listen to this CD by yourself, with a family member, and with a friend. Woman Spirit explains that Bleeding Time is a wondrous gift to be proud of and celebrated.

With love, Pam

When Will I Get My Period?

The average girl starts her first period when she is 12 years and 8 months old. That means that most girls start their bleeding time when they are in 6^th grade. But you are not an average -- you are unique -- so you can't be sure exactly when you will have your menarche -- your first period. First you will notice that you will start growing breast buds, then hair under your arms and on your pubic area. Usually it takes about two years after you have breast buds before you will see your first blood.

Will You be 9 or 16?

I have talked to hundreds of women about getting their first periods and the youngest age for First Blood was eight and oldest was 17. You see there is a big age range!

If you are the first in your class or among your friends to get your first blood, you will probably feel awkward. You still feel and look like a girl, and you are certainly not ready to act like a grown up woman. There’s plenty of time to grow into being a woman. For now, enjoy being a girl.

If you are among the last in your class or among your friends to get your period, you will be ready and wishing it would hurry up and come. What’s wrong with me; you may say. Nothing’s wrong; you are fine. Just be patient and it will come.

In my story, Waiting for It, Sarah is 16, very knowledgeable about human biology and is anxiously waiting for her period to come. Babs, barely 10, and completely uninformed, visits her cousin, who is a friend of Sarah’s. A shocked Babs, gets her period while she is there. Sarah and the older girls teach Babs what she needs to know. They don’t understand why Babs’ mother has not explained the facts every girl must be familiar with.

Write Your Story

Please write and tell me the story of your first period now or write about waiting for It. Also write when you start your bleeding. I really want to know!

You can also ask questions by using the blog. I hope to hear from you soon!

Blessings for your woman journey, Pam

PS, You can read the whole story of Babs and Sarah in Waiting for It, which is a chapter in Passages into Womanhood: Empowering Girls to Love Themselves.

My next book for girls and women will be, Getting It! Recollections of My First Period. I’m compiling stories now and would love to hear from you. Write me your story and you may see it on my website or in my new book when it comes out. Click the email link below and your writing will come directly to me. Thanks!

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